Drinking Too Much Bottled Water May Be Bad for Your Teeth

The increased use of bottled water in the United States has been controversial for many groups. Environmentalists are understandably concerned about the impact that the plastic has on the environment, and some cities are upset at the waste that it causes. These groups have a perhaps unexpected ally in the United States – dentists, who worry that the overreliance on bottled water is bad for our teeth. They say that the effect is particularly pronounced in children.

But despite the use of fluoride in tap water, dentists are seeing a significant uptick in children with severe dental problems. Dr. Burton Edelstein, president of the Children's Dental Health Project in Washington, D.C. and a professor of dentistry and health policy and management at New York City's Columbia University, said to HealthDay that the number of young children with prominent tooth decay is alarming. One in 10 two-year-olds, one in five three-year-olds, one in three four-year-olds, and nearly half of five-year-olds have evidence of tooth decay.

So why do dentists blame bottled water? Americans drink 8.4 billion gallons of bottled water every year. Unlike municipalities, bottled water manufacturers do not need to have fluoride in their containers, and do not need to report if they have it or not. Most manufacturers do not put it in their bottled beverages. Researchers do acknowledge that the link between bottled water and tooth decay has not yet been definitively proven.

Parents cite convenience, taste, smell and a fear of public water contamination as reasons that they prefer giving their children bottled water. But it is important to note that, with few exceptions, tap water is perfectly safe. Perhaps, in a compromise between bottled water and tap water, parents should invest in water filters and reusable water bottles.